Sin & Suffer

He flinched as I kissed his brow, his eyes, his lips.

I wanted to kiss every inch, imbed myself into his every pore so he could never carve me out.

“Life and death don’t mean shit to us, Buttercup. My love for you makes us immortal.” His arm tightened, wrapping fiercely. “I get it. I get your pain.” His kissed my eyelids. “Just let go, baby. Let me catch you.”

More tears poured. I never knew I had so much liquid pain inside me. It all evicted, torrential waterfalls, unable to stop.

Time ticked past but I wasn’t aware.

The door opened and closed but I didn’t notice.

All I cared about was Arthur, his warmth, and his ever-steady heartbeat.

For a while, all I could do was hang in his embrace and sob.

I cried for everything.

For the past.

The present.

For good and evil.

And when I finally cried my last tear, I found completion. Every splintered piece realigned and for the first time since fire licked my skin and cast me from my world, I felt whole.

No more missing pieces. No more holey memories.

Exactly who I should be.

His.

My breathing slowly evened out, my hiccups fading in tune with the heart rate monitor.

Arthur settled into the single mattress, kissing my cheek. “Come here.”

Kicking off my shoes, I climbed into the narrow bed beside him. Tugging me, he helped smuggle me into the sleepy heat of his bed. The heavy thud-thud of his heartbeat soothed me and I relaxed for the first time in years.

“Are we okay?” he whispered finally.

I nodded, rubbing my cheek on his chest. “Better than okay.”

Smiling shyly, embarrassed from my breakdown, I looked into his eyes.

The green glowed with something I hadn’t seen before.

Contentedness.

Gone was the harsh glow that never left. Gone was the rigid hatred in his limbs. He was free—just like I was. Healed and whole, truly living in the moment, not the past or future.

I sucked in a shaky breath. My eyes stung from crying and I wanted nothing more than to drift into a heavy sleep in his arms. But he’d given me safety to heal; I would do the same for him. “You found closure.”

He nodded, the bandages around his head brushing against his pillow. “I did.”

The promise I’d made not to ask what Pure Corruption did faded. I was happy he’d found peace, but at what cost? Would he be able to live with whatever occurred last night?

I looked away. “What happened?”

The words scattered around us like a jury waiting for a verdict. He tensed but his face etched with righteousness. “I did what had to be done.”

I nodded, tracing a crease in the bedding. He murdered them. I didn’t know how to be happy for someone’s healing at the cost of another’s demise—even if they deserved it.

When I didn’t reply, anger decorated his features. “I ended it.”

My heart spasmed. “You killed them.”

Never looking away, not looking contrite or guilty or regretful, he nodded. “I did.”

“Both Rubix and Asus?”

His good hand fisted on the sheets. “I delivered penance for the crimes they committed. Both of them.”

I sucked in a breath, stroking the starched bedding. Part of me was horrified to be in love with a man who could steal a life with such precision, but the other part of me was proud. Proud of him for sticking up for himself. For finally putting this nightmare behind him.

Arthur’s eyes locked onto mine. “My vengeance is complete, Buttercup.”

I shuddered at the cold finality in his voice.

His lips softened. “Don’t ask any more questions. What’s done is done. And I’m glad it’s done. But I don’t want to talk about it. Do you understand?”

I understood. Whatever had happened last night had been harrowing and gruesome. I didn’t want that knowledge tainting my thoughts. I didn’t want to know what he’d done or the scars he would bear because of it.

I hung my head. “I understand.”

Arthur breathed out heavily. “Thank you.”

“I’m just glad you’ve found peace after all these years.”

Taking my hand, Arthur smiled—a true smile—with no residue of past pain or suffering. My heart skipped as he kissed the back of my knuckles, gathering me close. “Life is going to be so much happier from now on, Cleo.”

I smiled, melting into his embrace. “As long as we’re together, life couldn’t be better.”

A few minutes passed with only the beeps and humming as conversation. Finally, Arthur murmured, “The past is dealt with. And soon the future will be, too.” He kissed my head, muscles relaxing as he drifted with painkillers and sleep. “Stay with me …”

I nodded. “Always.”

It didn’t take long for him to stray into slumber. I didn’t chase him into dreams. I lay awake for ages, hoping, fearing, praying that our future would be better than our past.

Last night had been one of the longest nights of my life. But it was finally over. Arthur was back where he belonged. He’d finally found peace instead of revenge.

We’d paid our toll.

Lived through sacrifice.

Life could be great again.

After everything we’d lived through, we deserved to be happy.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Kill

I couldn’t remember the last time I smiled.

Death surrounded me in the form of rapists and murderers and thieves.